Winding machine



A. D. EITZEN WINDING MACHINE April 24, 1934.

Original Filed Jan. 10, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR' AugwtflEitze/z,

9 ATTORN EY Apria 24, 1934. A EITZIEN 1,955,741

WINDING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 10. 1929 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR gifii BY K0 ATTORNEY April 24, 1934 ElTZEN 1,955,741

WINDING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 10, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet .5

INVENTOR DEitzm ATTORNEY 5 between Faienteci Apr. 24, 1934 WiNDINGMACHINE- August D. Eitzen, Rockv to News Projection ille Center, N; Y.,assignor Corporation, New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 10, 1929, SerialNo.

Renewed May 31, 1933 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to winding machines, and hasparticular reference toa machine-for winding ticker tape.

Although I have herein illustrated and shall 5 hereinafter describe myinvention as applied to the winding of ticker tape as the same is fedfrom a particular type of display apparatus, nevertheless it will beunderstood that as to certain phases of my invention such an appli- 10cation is not essential.

It is a general object to provide a machine for winding ticker tape intoa firm spiral roll by mechanism which is extremely simple inconstruction, highly efiicient'in operation, and which necessitates aminimum of attendance and control.

It is a particular object of my present invention to provide a machinewherein the formation of a spiral roll is accomplished without anyrecourse to a mandrel or spindle upon which such roll is formed. Sincethe tape supplied to any winding machine is fed at a substantiallyuniform rate of speed, it follows that any mandrel .arrangement is besetwith the difiicultyof adjusting the rotative speed of the mandrel to thegradually increasing diameter of the spiral wound thereon. In otherwords, the peripheral velocity of such a roll should remainsubstantially uniform, and if the roll is being wound by means of atorque applied to a mandrel, the speed of rotation of such mandrel mustbe gradually reduced as the diameter of the roll increases. Suchreduction plished by means of slippage devices interposed the mandreland its driving instrumentality. My present invention obviates thenecessity for providing any such slippage device.

The spiral roll producedin accordancewith my present invention is builtupon a nucleus formed of the tape itself and'it is caused to rotate bymeans of 'a force or forces applied to the periphery of the roll. Sincethe peripheral speed is substantially uniform, employ a constantlymoving belt which frictionally engages the rollover a substantial arcof.

the periphery, and I am enabled to move this belt at a substantiallyuniform speed.

Briefly, my invention resides in the provisionwhich is supplied of meansfor engaging the tape from the ticker or the like, means for directingthe end of the tape against suitable means for doubling such end backunder itself so as to form the nucleus of a spiral, and means such asthe belt previously referred to for frictionally engagof speed hasheretofore been acccm.

I am enabled to,

'ing the periphery of the spiral roll to support and rotate the same.

Certain outstanding features of my invention reside in the arrangementof parts and mechanism for keeping the spiral roll constantly in tightlywound condition, the provision of means for continuing the machine inoperation despite the growth of the spiral roll, means whereby therelatively large ultimate roll automatically positions itself in anaccessible manner to permit easy withdrawal thereof, and means for soengaging and directing the tape that it need only be fed into themachine, as through a slot or the like, in order that the operation maycommence.

In order that the means for engaging and advancing the tape may beprevented from causing a breakage in a case wherein the tape supply issuddenly retarded or stopped, I provide a slippage arrangement whichpermits the advancing means to halt without interfering with the motivepower or the subsequent smooth operation. I wish to point out, however,,that this slippage arrangement is not of the character hereinbeforereferred to in connection with mandrel-driven machines, since it comesinto operation only when the supply of tape is stopped. During normalwinding conditions, there is no slippage whatsm ever in any portion ofmy machine. a 7 j For the attainment of the foregoing objects and suchother objects asmay hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I haveillustrated one form of my invention in the accompanying drawings,where- Figure 1 is an elevational view showing a winding machine of thepresent character associated with a particular type of display devicethrough which the ticker tape is passed;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view through thewinding machine, this view being taken in the same direction as Figure1;

Figure 3 is agview of the'winding machine as it appearswhen viewed fromthe left of Figure 2;

' Figure dis a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken in the samedirection as Figure 2 and showing certain vital parts in positions otherthan those shown in Figure 2; and l Figure 6 is afragmentary perspectiveview of certain parts of the machine to illustrate their cooperation.

In Figure 1 stock quotation ticker 10 I have shown one end portion of aor the like from which a ticker tape 11 is fed in a wellknown manner.

The tape 11 is typical of that type of tape for which my winding machineis particularly adapted. I have shown this tape entering, passingthrough, and leaving a projecting apparatus 12, the latter having asource of light which is projected upwardly through the tape and througha suitable objective lens 13 to display the markings on the tape in asuitable manner upon a screen. At the right of Figure 1 I have shown thetape 11 leaving the device 12 and entering the winding machine proper.

Referring to Figure 2 I will point out in a general way that my windingmachine comprises a main casing 14 and an auxiliary casing 15 attachedto one side thereof, as shown most clearly in Figure 3. Mounted in thecasing 15 and upon a shaft 16 is a feeding wheel 17 adapted to rotate inthe direction of the arrow of Figure 2. A suitable opening 18 isprovided in the wall of the casing 15 to permit the tape 11 to enter thecasing 15 and to pass around the lower half of the periphery of thewheel 17. The latter is provided with a circumferential groove 19 whosefunction will be presently described.

Carried by a pin 20 which is secured within the casing 15 adjacent tothe wheel 17 is a spring wire or the like 21 adapted to overlie thelower portion of the periphery of the wheel 17. In fact, the spring 21overlies the lower portion of the groove 19. The wheel 17 is of a widthapproximately equal to the width of the tape 11, and the latter issecurely gripped between the periphery of the wheel 17 and the spring 21as shown most clearly in Figure 4. This grip insures a frictionalengagement between the wheel 17 and the tape 11 so that the latter willbe advanced in the direction of rotation of such wheel, forming a tapedrawing means.

Before describing other portions of my device I will point out that thewheel 17 is driven at a substantially uniform rate of speed from themotor 22 whose driving shaft is provided with the worm 23 which extendsinto the casing 14. Meshing with the worm 23 is a worm wheel 24 mountedupon a shaft 25. The latter shaft carries a worm 26 which meshes with aworm wheel 27. The wheel 27 is axially aligned with the shaft 16 of thewheel17, but is not directly connected thereto. Upon referring to Figure4, it will be noted that the wheel 27 is a portion of a sleeve 28freelyrotatable about the shaft 16.

The sleeve 28 carries also the spur gear 29 whose function will bepresently described. Engaging with the outer face of the gear 29 is afriction disc 30 keyed as at 31 to the shaft 16. Similarly engaging withthe outer face of the worm wheel 27 is a complementary friction disc 32splined as at 33 to the shaft 16. Adjustably mounted on the shaft 16 isa nut element 34 adapted to bear against a compression spring 35, thelatter engaging the disc 32 to force the same against the wheel 27. Thisfrictional sandwiching of the sleeve 28 between the friction discs 30and 32 results in normal rotation of the shaft 16 by the wheel 27 at thesame speed as the latter. Under certain circumstances, hereinafter to bementioned, the wheel 27 is free to continue its constant rotationwithout rotating the shaft 16 along with it.

Fixedly carried within the casing 15 is a guide strip 36 which is mostclearly illustrated in Figure 6 and comprises the upper forked portionformed by the upwardly extending spaced prongs 37, and the lowerattenuated portion formed to provide the finger 38 which extendsdownwardly into the groove 19. The function of this strip 36 will bepresently described.

Mounted above the casing 15 is a pivotally arranged oasing or frame 39which is open at the bottom. A shaft 40 extends from within the easing14 into and across the casing 39 to form a pivot axis therefor. A coilspring, such as a clock spring 41, is attached at its outer end, as at42, to the casing 39 and is attached at its inner end, as at 43, to thecasing 14. The spring 41 constantly urges the casing 39 into the normalposition shown in full lines in Figure 2.

Within the casing 39 and mounted upon the shaft 40 is a pulley 43designed to rotate in the direction of the arrow of Figure 2 and drivenfrom the motor by means of the spur gear 44, the latter being carriedupon the shaft 40 within the casing 14 and meshing with the spur gear 29previously mentioned.

Adjacent the opposite end of the casing 39 is a somewhat smaller pulley45 mounted upon a spindle 46. The latter is not journaled directlybetween the opposite walls of the casing 39 but is carried between thearms of a fork 47. The fork 47 is mounted for longitudinal reciprocationwithin a sleeve 48 fixedly carried within the casing 39. A rearwardlyextending bar 49 is carried by the fork 47 and extends through thesleeve 48. A tension spring 50 connects the rear end of the bar 49 withthe sleeve 48, thereby tending constantly to urge the bar 49, the fork47, and hence the pulley 45, outwardly away from the pulley 43. In thisway, a friction belt 51 extending around the pulleys 43 and 45 isconstantly retained under tension.

The belt 51 is driven by the pulley 43 at a uniform rate of speed, whichspeed is substantially the same as the peripheral speed of the wheel 17.The belt 51 travels in the direction of the small arrow shown adjacentto the pulley 45 in Figure 2.

A pin or spindle 52 projects outwardly from the casing 14 slightly belowthe casing 39 and adjacent to the pulley 43 and serves to force the belt51 into the position shown in Figure 2 when the casing 39 is in itsnormal position as shown in Figure 2.

Carried by the sleeve 48 and extending toward the pulley 43 is the strip53 similar in nature to the strip 36 and most clearly shown in Figure 6.

The strip 53 is provided with the rear forked portion constituted of thedownwardly curved prongs 54.

When the casing 39 is in its normal position, the belt 51 passes beneaththe strip 53 and between the prongs 54, thence above the strip 36 andbetween the prongs 37, thence around the pin or spindle 52. As thecasing 39 is pivoted, during the operation of the machine presently tobe described, toward the dot and dash position of Figure 2, the belt 51gradually leaves its threaded passage through these prongs 54 and 37, asis most clearly observed in Figure 5 and in the dot and dash lines ofFigure 2.

The prongs 54 are so. shaped and arranged with respect to the upperportion of the strip 36, that a substantially semi-circular pocket isdefined, as shown in Figures 2 and 6.

In operation, the several parts hereinbefore described, cooperate asfollows. The strip 11 is fed inwardly through the opening 18 into aposition between the periphery of the wheel 17 and the rear portion ofthe spring or wire 21. The wheel 17 immediately becomes operative toadvance this tape around its lower portion. When the tape end reachesthe finger 38 (after a travel of about 180), the finger 38 guides thetape off of the wheel 17 and upwardly toward the belt 51. The latterdirects the tape end toward the semicircular pocket above described, andthe continued advancement of the tape by the wheel 17 causes the tapeend tobe doubled back under itself as shown in Figure 2 as this endencounters the pocket referred to. This doubling back of the tape endcauses the tape to form the nucleus of a spiral roll, and I will pointout at this time that this spiral roll is thus produced without anyrecourse to a mandrel or the like.

The belt 51 immediately becomes operative not only to rotate the nucleusbut to support the latter from above. Such rotation, along with acontinuation of they advancement effected by the wheel 17, causes thespiral roll gradually to grow in size. As the diameter increases, theupward pressure upon the belt 51 causes the entire casing 39 graduallyto swing upwardly from the full line position of Figure 2 toward the dotand dash position thereof.

In Figure 5 I have illustrated an intermediate position. The roll is inthis figure designated by the reference numeral 55 and is being rotatedin the direction of the arrow by means of the belt 51. To serve as asupport for this roll at such intermediate stage of its formation andgrowth, I provide a guide roller 56 mounted upon an arm 57 which ispivoted at its lower'end 58 to the casing 15. A tension spring 59constantly urges the arm 57 to the left thereby keeping the tape 11insuitable contact with wheel 17 and facilitating the support of the roll55.

As the roll increases in diameter, the axis thereof gradually shiftsfrom the point at which the nucleus was initially created toward a pointupwardly and to the right. After this axis has passed beyond a pointsubstantially over the axis of the roller 56, the roll 55 shouldadvantageously be supported by still further means, and for this purposeI have provided the second guide roller 60 carried by an arm 61 pivotedat 62 to the casing 14. A tension spring 63 tends to keep the roller 60in a position whereby it yieldably presses or bears radially inwardlywith respect to the roll 55. After support is found upon the roller 60,the roll 55 leaves contact with the roller 56, and the latter thereafterserves only the single function of suitably guiding the tape 11 onto theperiphery of the roll 55.

In Figure'2 I have shown by means of the dot and dash lines 64 theapproximate periphery of the roll 55 after the same has ultimatelyreached a considerable diameter, almost as large as the machine itself.The roll is at this stage of the operation supported upon the roller 60which has been gradually forced downwardly into the dot and dash lineposition illustrated. At the opposite portion of the roll the same isstill being rotated and supported by means of the belt 51, the positionof which is at this stage of operation illustrated by the dot and dashlines 65.

When the roll has attained the desired size, it is merely necessary totear the same away from the machine or preferably to sever the tape at apoint entering the opening 18. The roll may then be withdrawn in asimple manner and disposed of as desired. As the roll is withdrawn, theparts will all automatically return to their original positions. Thus,the casing 39 will swing back under the action of the spring 41. Indoing so, the belt wil" encounter the spindle 52 and be yieldably orcedinto the position shown in Figure 2. The

purpose of the spindle 52 is thus obvious, viz., to hold the belt in aposition whereby the semi-circular pocket may be provided in the properposition for forming the nucleus of the roll newly to be started.

To start a new roll, no adjustment is necessary other than to feed theend of the tape through the opening 18 in the manner previouslydescribed.

Under normal conditions of operation, there is therefore no slippagewhatsoever between any I driving force such as. the motor 22 and thedriven parts of the machine. Since the peripheral speed of the spiralroll is constantly substantially uniform, the constant driving of thebelt 51 at a uniform speed is sufficient and highly satisfactory forrotating and supporting such roll. Similarly, the constant andsubstantially uniform advancing action of the wheel 1'7 is satisfactoryfor purposes of feeding the tape at a substantially uniform speed ontothe periphery of the rotating roll.

To provide for the contingency that the tape supply from the projector12 or from the ticker 10 is temporarily stopped, the slippagearrangement indicated by the discs 30 and 32 has been arranged for. Byproperly adjusting the tension of the spring 35, the slightestretardation of the supply of tape. as the latter is fed to the machine,will be suflicient to hold back the rotation of the wheel l'l'or stopthe same entirely. Such stoppage of the wheel 1'7 will not impairthesubsequent smooth operation of the machine as soon as the supply of tapeis again forthcoming.

It will thus be seen that I have constructed a machine for accomplishingthe desired purposes in a simple and expeditious mannerand by means ofmechanism which is not only compact and simple in construction andnature, but also highly efficient in performing its functions? It is tobe particularly noted that no attendancewhatsoever is required otherthan that necessary to withdraw the completed roll and to thread thetape into the machine for the initiation of a new roll.

It will be obvious that changes in the details herein described andillustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention maybe made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It istherefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative,and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a machine forwinding a supply of tape into a spiral roll of gradually increasingdiameter, means for frictionally engaging the periphery of said rollover a substantial arc to rotate and position the latter, said meansincluding a driven belt and an opposing idler both mounted to yieldradially as the roll grows in diameter, and means engaging the suppliedtape for advancing the same at uniform speed onto said rotatingperiphery.

2. In a machine for winding a supply of tape into a spiral roll ofgradually increasing diameter, means for frictionally engaging theperiphery of said roll over a substantial arc to rotate and position thelatter, said means including a driven belt and an opposing idler,yieldable means for carrying said belt and said idler to permit radiallyoutward movement of both as the roll grows in diameter, and meansengaging the supplied tape for advancing the same at uniform speed ontosaid rotating periphery.

3. In a machine for winding 2. supply of tape into a spiral roll ofgradually increasing diameter,

means engaging the supplied tape for advancing the same at uniform speedonto the periphery of said roll. a yieldable driven means forfrictionally engaging said periphery over a substantial arc to rotateand position said roll, and an opposing yieldable idler alsofrictionally engaging said periphery.

4. In a machine for winding a supply of tape into a spiral roll ofgradually increasing diameter, means engaging the supplied tape foradvancing the same at uniform speed onto the periphery of said roll, andyieldable means for frictionally engaging said periphery over asubstantial arc to rotate and position said roll; said yieldable meansincluding a belt and a yieldable opposing idler, a pair of pulleys forsaid belt, one of said pulleys being positively driven, and a framecarrying said pulleys and .pivotable around the axis of one thereof.

5. In a machine for winding a supply of tape into a spiral roll ofgradually increasing diameter, means engaging the supplied tape foradvancing the same at uniform speed onto the periphery of said roll. andyieldable means for frictionally engaging said periphery over asubstantial arc to rotate and position said roll; said yieldable meanscomprising a belt, a pair of pulleys for said belt,

and means for yieldably urging said pulleys apart to tension said belt,whereby the latter will conform to the constantly changing curvature ofsaid periphery.

6. In a machine for winding 2. supply of tape into a spiral roll ofgradually increasing diameter, means engaging the supplied tape foradvancing the same at uniform speed onto the periphery of said roll, andyieldable means for frictionally engaging said periphery over asubstantial arc to rotate and position said roll; said yieldable meanscomprising a belt, a pair of pulleys for said belt, a frame carryingsaid pulleys and pivotable around the axis of one thereof, and yieldablemeans for pressing said frame toward said roll.

7. In a machine for winding a supply of tape into a spiral roll ofgradually increasing diameter, means engaging the supplied tape foradvancing the same at uniform speed onto the periphery of said roll, andyieldable means for frictionally engaging said periphery over asubstantial arc to rotate and position said roll; said yieldable meanscomprising a belt, a pair of pulleys for said belt, a frame carryingsaid pulleys and pivotable around the axis of one thereof, and means foryieldably urging said pulleys apart to tension said belt.

8. In a machine for winding a supply of tape into a spiral roll ofgradually increasing diameter, means engaging the supplied tape foradvancing the same at uniform speed onto the periphery of said roll, andyieldable means for frictionally engaging said periphery over asubstantial arc to rotate and position said roll; said yieldable meanscomprising a belt, a pair of pulleys for said belt, a frame carryingsaid pulleysand pivotable around the axis of one thereof, yieldablemeans for pressing said frame toward said roll, and means for yieldablyurging said pulleys apart to tension said belt.

9. In a machine for winding a supply of tape into a spiral roll ofgradually increasing diameter, means engaging the supplied tape foradvancing the latter at substantially uniform speed, means comprising apair of complementary arcuate elements for deflecting the end of theadvanced tape back upon itself to form the nucleus of said spiral roll,and yieldable means for frictionally engaging the periphery of said rollto rotate and position the same, said yieldable means comprising a belt,a pair of pulleys for said belt, a frame carrying said pulleys andpivotable around the axis of one thereof, yieldable means for pressingsaid frame toward said roll, means for yieldably urging said pulleysapart to tension said belt, and

means for driving said belt at a substantialliy uniform speed which issubstantially equal to the speed of said advancing means.

10. In a machine for winding 2. supply of tape into a spiral roll ofgradually increasing diameter, means for frictionally engaging theperiphery of said roll to rotate and position the latter, said meansincluding a positively driven device and an opposing idler both beingmounted to yield radially outwardly as the roll grows in diameter, andmeans engaging the supplied tape for advancing the same at uniform speedonto said rotating periphery.

' AUGUS'I' D. EITZEN.

